Become a Southern Circuit Screening Partner

Screening Partner applications for the 2023-2024 Southern Circuit season are open through April 25, 2023.

Bring independent filmmakers to your community for screenings and conversations around powerful stories and the art of filmmaking. Screening Partners are partner organizations that present Southern Circuit screenings, Q&As, and other filmmaker engagements with the community. Screening Partners serve as hosts on the tour, thoughtfully connecting touring filmmakers with their communities and providing local recommendations for travel, lodging, and dining. Screening Partners are expected to develop screening audiences through marketing and partnerships. As a cohort, they participate in the film selection process and discuss marketing strategies for each film.

South Arts coordinates touring schedules, connects filmmakers with Screening Partners, and provides marketing materials for each film. Filmmakers receive honorarium with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Screening Partners must be nonprofit, educational, or governmental organizations residing in the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Southern Circuit Screening Partners have included universities, community arts centers, municipalities, places of worship, and other organizations, serving audiences of all ages.

Southern Circuit is invested in partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the South Arts region. To discuss potential partnerships, please contact Jordan Young at jyoung@southarts.org or (404) 874-7244, Ext. 824.

What films are presented?

Southern Circuit prioritizes featuring Southern filmmakers and stories. We are committed to presenting films by filmmakers of color, LGBTQ+ filmmakers, and filmmakers with disabilities. Filmmakers must have an ethical relationship with the topics and individuals/communities presented in their work. We are invested in including emerging and first-time filmmakers.

Screening Partners are provided a Southern Circuit Film Guide with potential selections for the season. Screening Partners work together to select six films that will tour to all Screening Partners. The Southern Circuit Film Selection Meeting will be held June 8, 2023. At least one representative from your organization will be required to participate.

Dates and Deadlines:

• Screening Partner applications must be submitted on or before April 25, 2023.
• Applicants will be notified of their status, Screening Partners will be provided films for consideration upon receipt of signed contract May 2, 2023.
• Screening Partners will attend a virtual film selection meeting June 8, 2023.
• Film screenings (6 total) will occur monthly September - November, 2023 and February - April, 2024.

Non-profit, educational, and governmental organizations (i.e. Screening Partners) that host the 2023-2024 Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers are required to:

• Provide South Arts a participation fee of $5,000. Participation fees are invoiced in Spring 2023 and must be paid by August 31, 2023. If the participation fee is a barrier to your organization’s participation, please contact Jordan Young at (404) 874-7244, Ext. 824 or jyoung@southarts.org
• Return signed contract to South Arts by May 16, 2023.
• New Screening Partners must participate in an introductory Southern Circuit webinar to review program expectations and requirements. The webinar will be presented June 2023.
• At least one representative from your organization will be required to participate in the online Southern Circuit Film Selection Meeting, June 8, 2023. During the meeting, representatives will select films and filmmakers that will tour with the 2023-2024 Southern Circuit.
• Present in-person screenings and audience Q&As with visiting filmmakers.
• Provide advance promotion within your community for each screening, including but not limited to print, electronic, and social media.
• Participate in a Southern Circuit marketing & audience development webinar to discuss marketing/communications strategies for the season’s films and how to effectively manage filmmaker relationships. The webinar will be presented in Summer 2023.
• Provide a qualified projectionist and functional projection and audio equipment. Blu-ray or DCP are preferred formats.
• Make recommendations for safe, clean, economical overnight accommodations for each filmmaker. Organizations may make reservations on behalf of filmmakers. Filmmakers are responsible for payment of accommodations based on applicable per diem.

• Solicit films and coordinate preliminary review of submitted films.
• Coordinate the selection process for filmmakers and films to tour with the 2023-2024 Southern Circuit.
• Contract filmmakers to screen work and participate in post-screening discussions and community engagements.
• Provide Screening Partners with marketing materials for each film.
• Provide informational webinars to Screening Partners.
• Provide filmmaker travel itineraries.
• Provide filmmaker travel stipends for travel, lodging, and meals.
• Provide ongoing support to filmmakers and Screening Partners.
• South Arts recognizes the value of filmmakers’ participation by providing artists honoraria with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Non-profit, educational, or governmental organizations within South Arts’ nine-state region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. 
• Non-profit tax-exempt status or an official unit of local, county or state government. Tax-exempt status will be verified by a third-party entity. Proof of governmental status is required. Fiscal agents will not be considered.
• Applicants must have a DUNS number. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a DUNS number. Visit the Dun & Bradstreet website for additional information about DUNS numbers as well as instructions on how to receive one.
• Projects must take place in South Arts’ nine-state region.
• Applicants must acknowledge the support of South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts in all marketing activities and contact with traditional (print, radio, TV) and social media.
• Complete and submit a final report to South Arts at the conclusion of the tour.
• Invited Screening Partners must comply with eligibility requirements. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of future project participation and grant funds from South Arts.

• Screenings must take place between September 2023 and April 2024.
• Events must be marketed to and include the public. Projects are not required to serve the entire geographic community but should make diverse audiences a goal.
• Applicants are required to provide reasonable accommodations for constituents with disabilities during events, and to include physical access (ramps, accessible parking/box office/restrooms/seating, etc.). Communications and programmatic accessibility are required and can also help your organization build audiences and strengthen engagement. Please visit the NEA's website for more information. Applicants must commit to the Endowment’s Assurance of Compliance.
• An electronic final report must be submitted at the conclusion of the Southern Circuit season by May 31, 2024 to South Arts.